Travelling to Turkey from Malaysia? Here’s everything that you need to know.

If you’re planning to travel to Turkey (Türkiye) from Malaysia, it’s important to know the Turkey entry requirements to make sure you can take your trip without any unnecessary hassle. It’s also handy to plan in advance to make sure you can get great value flights, and to download everyday travel apps which can make life in Turkey that little bit smoother, cheaper and more relaxing.

This guide walks through all you need to know about Turkey travel restrictions and rules and introduces some great apps to get ahead of time. Plus we’ll look at how the Wise app can help you do more with your money once you land in Turkey, with convenient ways to spend and withdraw TRY with the mid-market rate and low fees¹.

Updated Turkey entry requirements from Malaysia

So - what are the Turkey covid restrictions for 2024?

At the time of writing (25th January 2024), the good news is that Turkey has lifted all covid entry requirements, and Malaysians can enjoy 90 days of visa-free travel as a tourist heading to Turkey. Bear in mind that although there’s no need to get a Turkey visa for Malaysian tourists, visas will be needed if you’re staying in the country for over 90 days or entering to work or study.

As travel rules and regulations can change abruptly, it’s useful to visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before you travel for the latest information on visas and any other requirements that may be in place².

Flying from Malaysia to Turkey

Most travellers flying from Malaysia to Turkey will head to either Istanbul (IST)³ or to Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)⁴. These 2 airports are actually pretty close to each other - only about an hour by car. If you’re flying direct to Turkey from KL you’ll probably find your flight goes to IST airport - and from there you can either take a private hire car, taxi or metro into Istanbul or to your next destination⁵. Taking a taxi into the centre of Istanbul isn’t a long journey - only around 30 kilometres. However, bear in mind that Istanbul traffic is pretty notorious, so this journey may take a while at peak times. When traffic isn’t too bad, you could be in the city in just half an hour by taxi.

If you’re travelling to Turkey with a layover, you may arrive at either airport. Sabiha Gokcen Airport is slightly further out of the city, at just over 40 kilometres away, but again, journey times are not too bad as long as you don’t hit peak traffic and all the jams it brings. You can take a taxi, bus or metro depending on your preference and exactly where you’re heading to.

If you choose to fly from Malaysia to Turkey directly the journey is likely to take about 11 hours - cheaper options which include one or more changes will take longer, but can still present decent value for your trip.

Apps to download before travelling to Turkey

Just like at home, having a few handy apps on your phone can be super helpful when you arrive in Turkey. As you might expect, the apps you need in Turkey aren’t exactly the same as those you might want to use at home though - here are a couple that are worth downloading ahead of time to make sure you can hit the ground running on arrival.

BiTaksi: Get a taxi on demand

BiTaksi⁶ is a ride hailing app similar to Grab or Gojek. As taxi scams are fairly common in Turkey, using an app like this is a great way to make sure you have a clear indication of price before you start your journey.

You can order a taxi on demand and choose from top rated drivers, pick a larger car if you’re a big group or have a lot of luggage, or even get a luxury vehicle to make your journey special. For safety you can share your ride with others, making this a good option in a city you don’t know well.

Metro Istanbul: Plan your public transport route in Istanbul

Getting around in Istanbul can be easier and faster if you use the metro. There’s a helpful Metro Istanbul website⁷ which includes a journey planner, and also the Official Metro Istanbul App which can help you plan your trip from your phone⁸.

The app is available in Turkish and English and includes comprehensive information about the railway network and fares, as well as journey planning tools. You may also decide it’s also a smart idea to buy the Istanbul Kart (Public transportation card) for ease of travel at all times. This can be used to ride the metro and bus, and offers discounts to cardholders.

Wise: Get better rates for Turkish lira when exchanging your ringgit

Instead of using your local credit or debit card when you’re in Turkey, make your money go further with Wise.

Wise multi-currency accounts can hold and exchange MYR, TRY and a whole selection of other currencies too, making them a great choice for your trip to Turkey - and wherever else life might take you.

Add your money to Wise in MYR and either switch to TRY in the Wise app - or opt for auto conversion which allows the card to convert for you whenever you spend with your Wise card. In either case you’ll get currency conversion which uses the mid-market exchange rate, with low, transparent fees from 0.43% - plus you can check your transaction history and balance in a glance in the Wise app.

You’ll also be able to use your Wise card to make ATM withdrawals in TRY to get the cash you’ll need for your stay. You can make 2 withdrawals, to the value of 1,000 MYR every month for free, with low fees after that - all with the great Wise exchange rate and low fees.

No matter what your plans might be in Turkey, you’ll have a great time - use this guide to make sure you can hit the ground running when you get there, and check out the Wise card as a simple way to save on currency exchange when spending in TRY and 40+ other foreign currencies.

💳 Get your Wise card today!